> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.botmux.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Source-NAT

> Bidirectional return path for routed messages

Source-NAT (Source Network Address Translation) enables bidirectional conversations across bots. When a message is routed from Bot A to Bot B, any reply to that message via Bot B is automatically sent back through Bot A to the original chat.

## How It Works

1. User sends message in Chat X → Bot A
2. Routing rule matches → message forwarded via Bot B to Chat Y
3. BotMux saves a mapping: `(source_bot, source_chat, source_msg) ↔ (target_bot, target_chat, target_msg)`
4. User in Chat Y replies to the forwarded message
5. BotMux checks `route_mappings` → finds the original source
6. Reply is sent via Bot A back to Chat X

## Bidirectional Tracking

Each reply creates a new mapping entry, enabling ongoing cross-bot dialogs without losing context.

## Loop Protection

Messages originating from bots (not users) are not reverse-routed, preventing infinite loops.

## Storage

Route mappings are stored in the `route_mappings` SQLite table with `RouteID=0` for LLM-generated routes.